Life-saving device.



c. J WENSLEY. LIFE SAVING DEVICE. A-PPLlOATION FILED AUG. 22., 1911.

Patented May 7, 1912.

1N VEN TOR COLUMIIA PLANQORAPH L10. WAsHlNd'lON. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. WENSLEY, OF HUNTINGTON, NEW YORK.

LIFE-SAVING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. \VnNsLEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Huntington, in the county of Suffolk and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-SavingDevices, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to life saving devices, and the principal objectof the same is to provide a receptacle having a rope and float heldtherein so that the swimmer may carry the rope and float'about with him,and if in danger of drowning may throw the float and rope in thedirection from whence help may come so that he may be more readilyrescued. It often happens that a swimmer gets under the water, and it isvery difficult to find him as the currents are liable to carry ahelpless person in any direct-ion. It therefore often happens thatpersons who have gotten under water are not found until too late torestore them to life.

When using this invention the person who is drowning draws the floatfrom the receptacle and throws it in the direction from which help isexpected. If the swimmer gets under water before the persons endeavoringto rescue him can reach him the float remains on the surface and bypicking up the float the rescuing party can easily draw in the rope thusdrawing the drowning person from the water. It will thus be evident thatthe drowning person will be rescued a great deal sooner than would bethe result if it were necessary to dive under the water and look for theperson.

Vhen constructing a rescuing device forming the subject-matter of thisapplication, it will, of course, be obvious that minor changes may bemade in details of construc tion and design, one preferred and practicalform being shown in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a viewshowing the device in use. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device.Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the device. Fig. 4 is a verticalsection taken at right angles to the section of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a topplan view of the invention with the float removed. Fig. 6 is aperspective view of the upper portion of the receptacle.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals it will be seen thatthe receptacle comprises a fabric body portion 10 Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application filed. August 22, 1911.

Patented May '7, 1912.

Serial No. 645,383.

which is secured to a metallic upper portion 11 held thereto by means ofthe binding 12 which incloses the upper portion of the fabric bodyportion. Belt loops 13 and let are connected with the metallic frame 11so that a belt 15 which passes around the swimmers waist may be rigidlyconnected with the receptacle. A loop 16 is connected with the band 12so that a rope 17 may be connected with the receptacle. The rope isnormally placed within the receptacle as shown in Fig. 3, and has itsinner end connected with a screw-eye 18 which is fastened in the innerend of the block 19. The block may be formed of any suitable material,such for instance as cork or wood, which will float. The float acts as aclosure for the receptacle thus holding the rope within the receptacle.A ring 20 is connected with a screw-eye 21 which is mounted in the upperportion of the float so that the float may be conveniently removed fromthe receptacle when necessary and also so that the float maybe readilypicked up.

In using this invention, the receptacle is connected with the belt 15which surrounds the waist and is carried while in swimming. If theswimmer is taken with a cramp or does not have sufiicient strength toreach the shore, the swimmer calls for help and after withdrawing thefloat and rope from the receptacle, throws the float in the directionfrom whence help is expected. The persons endeavoring to rescue theswimmer go in the direction of the float and after reaching the samepick it from the water and then draw the swimmer toward them. In thisway the swimmer may be helped while the persons endeavoring to assisthim are still some distance from him. It should also be noted that ifthe swimmer goes under the water and does not come up again that thefloat may be picked up and by drawing the rope in the swimmer may bedrawn to the surface without it being necessary to dive into the waterand search for him.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a fabric body portion,a frame connected with the upper portion of said body portion, a ropeconnected with said frame and normally positioned within saidreceptacle, a float connected with said rope and adapted to fit withinsaid frame to close said body portion.

2. A device of the character described In testimony whereof I hereuntoaflix my comprising a fabric body portion, a frame signature in presenceof two Witnesses. at the upper end of said body portion, a

T 7' binding securing the upper portion of said CHARLES VVEL SLEX 5portion to said frame, a loop connected with i/Vitnesses:

said binding, a rope connected With said JOSEPH L. LEIGH, loop and afloat connected With said rope. E. G. DE NEAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

